AP Lang Lesson: Word Police

The Word Police

Michiko Kakutani

Politically Correct Language:Attempts equality but suppresses true meanings and individual expression

INDEX

STRUCTURE

DEBATE

RHETORICS

SYNTHESIS/CONNECTION BOARD

ARGUMENT

INTERACTIVE

INFORMATIVE

Debate

Central Question

Take notes on the article structure, rhetorics, and argumentative techniques. Was the author's argument effective, and how?

Article Structure

Examples:Uses lots of extreme examples to lower credibility of the opposing argument, strengthening her own

Hook:Use of absurdity as a means of humor to set a clear stance

Reasoning:Moves from examples to reasoning, talking about negative effects

Thesis: Slight concession that helps further refine the author's stance

Details:

Rhetorical Analysis

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Logos:The logical reasoning focuses too much on PC words and phrases and overexaggerates one the narrow problem of racism and misogyny which distracts from the main problem

Ethos:Uses a few sources to cite specific evidence and examples to help support her argument. she also sets up the article to make it clear that the author is on the readers side, getting the reader to trust the author more

Pathos:Only focus's on minor parts like words and phrases and downplays the idea of PC language with unnecessary and irrelevant examples, as well as ridculous examples to mock the idea of "word police"

Supporting Evidence

LOGOS: ¶18, ¶17PATHOS: ¶10, ¶18 ETHOS: ¶6, ¶20

Argumentative Choices

• Uses mainly second-hand sources to help expand upon her claims and convey her argument
• Claim of fact: P.C. language causes us conflict over what can be considered as “acceptable language”
• Claim of value: P.C. language changes our language completely and poorly rebuilds it to be inoffensive.
• Claim of policy: To create the perfect world we shouldn’t use P.C. language and should use other methods that don’t make us sacrifice our freedom

Argumentation Evidence Examples

Debate:

A fight to the death for candy

Debate

Central Question

Using your notes on the author's rhetorical techniques and argumentative choices as evidence, consider this: Was the author's argument effective, and how?

Team 1

• Odd numbers
• Present evidence for why author's argument is EFFECTIVE

VS

Team 2

• Even numbers
• Present evidence & evaluate why author's argument is INEFFECTIVE

Debate Guiding Questions

Debate Guiding Questions

Tone

How does the author's tone affect the argument?

Debate Guiding Questions

Structure

Tone

Does the structure strengthen the argument?

How does the author's tone affect the argument?

Debate Guiding Questions

Structure

Tone

Evidence

Was the use of evidence effective?

How does the author's tone affect the argument?

Does the structure strengthen the argument?

SynthesisDiscussion Board

Guiding Question:

THE TEAM

Rahul

Kovidh

Kimmy

Katie